"Louis never told us goodbye. Remember, he always left us by saying: 'Be good.' And he didn't mean, be nice young ladies, for of course he knew better. I am still learning all that he meant by those two words. Be good at what you do. Work and work until you are good at what you want to do. So Louis, no goodbyes. We are here today being good. Yes, we ARE good, and it is because we have always had him with us - encouraging, admonishing, coaching, and befriending us, quite simply the best there is."

The event celebrates the birth of Charles Lewis Cocke, who served as president of Hollins from 1846 until his death in 1901. Even though Cocke came to Hollins after its establishment in 1842, he is considered the school's founder because the institution would not have survived without his leadership during financial crises, disease epidemics, the Civil War, and other challenges. (Cocke was born on February 21, 1820.) The Founder's Day program will begin that afternoon with members of the senior class and a member of the campus community chosen by that class processing to the Cocke family cemetery, located at the southeast end of campus, and placing a wreath on Mr. Cocke's grave.

One group of students is in St. John during J-Term 2014 with biology professors Renee Godard and Morgan Wilson, doing everything from underwater research to hiking, from beach clean up to starfish rescue, and more. Read about their adventures on their blog.

Beginning fall 2014, Hollins will launch a new honors program to complement the challenges of the academic program for some of our most talented and motivated students. Open to first- and second-year students, the honors program is designed for the student who is intrigued by the idea of working in depth on interdisciplinary, collaborative, student-initiated projects

With the delivery last summer of seven instruments designed by Steinway & Sons, the company regarded as the world's finest piano maker, Hollins joined George Mason University, James Madison University, Radford University, and Episcopal High School in Alexandria as Virginia's only "All-Steinway Schools." A concert featuring German pianist Alexander Schimpf will highlight the university's official recognition of its "All-Steinway School" designation during Hollins' annual Founder's Day celebration on Thursday, February 20.

Hollins and Roanoke's Mill Mountain Theatre will host 900 students and faculty from colleges and universities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and southwest Virginia at the Region Four festival of the 46th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), February 4 - 8. Hollins' production of Decision Height by Meredith Dayna Levy '12, M.F.A. '15 will be among the plays showcased at this year's festival. Levy earned one of 2013's top playwriting prizes from the Kennedy Center for the drama.

Hollins paid tribute to the late Louis D. Rubin, Jr., founder of the university's graduate program in creative writing and mentor to some of the nation's best writers, with a memorial service on January 11. The special event was held in the Hollins Theatre and featured memories, stories, photos, and even a song or two from friends, family, and former colleagues and students.

In the summer of 2014, Hollins is introducing a graduate degree in children's book writing and illustrating, the first such program of its kind in the country. An addition to Hollins' summer Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) programs in the study and writing of children's literature, and the university's Certificate in Children's Book Illustration, the new M.F.A. will enable students who want to both write and illustrate children's books to earn a master's degree with concentrated training in both disciplines.

Alumnae: your referrals of talented students have a direct impact on both the quality and quantity of the next class of Hollins women.Refer a student by May 30 and your class may win the Race to Reunion! Check our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on the #RacetoReunion.

An incredible Hollins alumna is about to have an incredible birthday: Fonnie Foy Strang '28 will turn 106 years young on January 31, 2014! To celebrate such an extraordinary birthday, the alumnae relations office invites all alumnae and friends of Hollins to send a happy birthday card to Fonnie, care of our office. Please mail your card by Tuesday, January 21, to: Happy Birthday Fonnie, Hollins University, P.O. Box 9629, Roanoke, VA 24020. We will collect the cards and mail a birthday package to Fonnie.

Class Ring Found Seven Decades After its Loss

A fantastic Hollins story - alumna Kathleen McDonald Roglan '97 found a Hollins class ring on eBay and purchased it, contacted the alumnae office, and we helped her discover that the ring's owner is alumna Frances McDowell Leitner '39, age 95, who lost the ring 72 years ago. Mrs. Leitner's daughter, Frances Leitner '73, helped facilitate the happy reunion.Read the full story

Message from the Alumnae Board

We, the Hollins Alumnae Association Board of Directors (or Alumnae Board for short), are a group of dedicated Hollins alumnae who serve as your ambassadors and liaison to the Hollins administration, faculty, and Board of Trustees, and help to support and further the Hollins mission. Separate from the Board of Trustees, Alumnae Board members are nominated each year to serve up to two consecutive three-year terms in an effort to insure that as many diverse alumnae voices are heard. You will be hearing more from us as we work in conjunction with the Alumnae Engagement Initiative to leverage our amazing alumnae network to help the Hollins community - past, present and future - connect with and support each other.

Giving to Hollins is important every year, not just during a reunion year. Are you proud of your Hollins education? Do you want to keep the Hollins sisterhood thriving for future generations? Join your classmates and make your gift to the Hollins Fund this year, and every year. Every gift counts and is a vote for Hollins' commitment to single-sex education.

Save the Date: 1842 Society Weekend in Dallas

Hollins takes the 1842 Society and Miss Matty's Circle, our leadership giving societies, to Dallas, Texas, for our next special weekend. Mark your calendar for November 7-9 for a great Hollins trip.

The second novel by Hollins University students - and quadruplets - has just been published. Congratulations to Jessica, Meredith, Stephanie, and Mackenzie Jackson, all class of 2014, on their newest book, Four of a Kind, part of their planned four-volume series Quadruple or Nothing, centering on two sets of high school sisters who are the children of parents now dating. Read more